The Prophet Elijah - As the two kingdoms strayed further and further away from the Lord, God began to raise up prophets, not just to rebuke the kings (which He had done before), but to administer punishment for their wickedness.  The first of these was Elijah, a prophet of Israel in the time of King Ahab (for Ahab was a wicked king).

 

"Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there will be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.'"  (I Kings 17:1, NASB)

 

As a result, Ahab (and his queen, Jezebel) hated Elijah and wanted him dead.  But the Lord protected him and warned him to flee to safety.

 

"The word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.'  So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook." (I Kings 17:2-6, NASB)

 

Elijah was the mentor of another famous prophet, Elisha.  The two are closely associated with one another, and Elisha took over for Elijah after his job was done.  Elijah is also one of only two people in the Old Testament not to have died (the other being Enoch way back in the Book of Genesis).

 

"When they had crossed over, Elijah asked Elisha, 'Ask what I shall do for you after I am taken from you.'  And Elisha said, 'Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.'  He said, 'You have asked a hard thing.  Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.'  As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them.  And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven." (II Kings 1:9-11, NASB)